2007
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Emaar art symposium
Emaar Properties will display the works of 68 international sculptors and painters at its third International Art Symposium from 7-17 January 2007 in Dubai. Viewings will be held at the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club and Global Village. There will be a painting and sculpting competition, with winners announced on 28 January.
Cirque opens at Battuta
Cirque du Soleil opens its first Middle East show tonight, 4 January, in Dubai. The modern circus is performing its Quidam show from under a specially erected big top tent at Ibn Battuta Mall. The cast is made up of more than 50 performers from 14 countries. Ticket holders can get food discounts at participating restaurants in the mall.
UAE culture in pictures
Photography exhibition 'Lenses of the past' is showing at the Dubai Airport Exhibition Hall as part of Dubai Shopping Festival's Carpet Oasis. The works represent snapshots of UAE cultural traditions by 27 amateur and professional photographers. It is open from 10am to 10pm weekdays and 4pm to 11pm Fridays until 2 February 2007.
UMI unveils spring collection
Dubai-based Universal Pearls & Jewels has unveiled its spring 2007 collection of pearl jewellery in white gold and diamond. The collection is set in 18K white gold and embedded with Tahitian and South Sea diamonds. UMI pieces are available from around 50 jewellery outlets in the UAE.
DSF winners on a roll
Prizes worth more than Dhs11.5m have been won so far during Dubai Shopping Festival 2007, Emirates Today reports. Organisers have handed over 28 Lexus and 14 Nissan cars, 14kg of gold, and cash prizes worth Dhs1.4m. A total of 90 Lexus and 45 Nissan cars will be given away by the end of the DSF.
ME retail property boom
With 53m sqft of retail floor space completed and a further 46m sqft of gross leasable area under development, the retail sector is estimated to be worth around $100bn per year in the Middle East, according to promoters of Retail City 2007. The retail real estate event, which is being held for the second year, has already booked half the 70,000 sqft of available exhibition space. It runs from 3-5 June in Dubai.
Caspian caviar bans lifted
The United Nations has lifted a ban on sales of Caspian Sea caviar, excluding the valuable beluga, according to Environment News Service. An almost total ban was imposed a year ago because of the rapid depletion of sturgeon fish stocks from the sea. Sales of 96 tons of caviar will be allowed in 2007 - 15% below the level set in 2005.
DDF $712m sales in 2006
Dubai Duty Free recorded sales of $712m in 2006, representing a 20% increase over 2005. Perfume was the top seller with sales reaching $96m, a 28% increase. Next were liquor sales, which were up 20%, followed by gold sales, which increased by 19% over the previous year. DDF says it is ranked in the top three duty free operations in the world.
Cinemas raise ticket prices
Major cinemas in the UAE have raised ticket prices to keep pace with higher operating costs and rents. Grand Cinemas and Cinestar Cinemas have raised ticket prices from Dh30 to Dh35, with more cinemas expected to follow, Emirates Today reported. It is the first price rise for some years.
BMW up for grabs at Doha golf
BMW has been named official car for the $2.2m Commercialbank Qatar Masters golf tournament, being played from 25-28 January 2007 at Doha Golf Club. Alfradan Automobiles is putting up a BMW 6 Series car as a prize for any player breaking the course record; as well as providing 25 chauffeur-driven vehicles for players.
Horeca to rebuild sector
Around 300 exhibitors have lined up for this year's Horeca, a major annual hospitality and food event which is running from 27-30 March 2007 in Beirut. Organisers hope the event will provide a boost to the country's hospitality sector, which was hit hard by the eight-week Israeli offensive against Lebanon last year.
Theft prompts security calls
Jewelers in Bahrain are calling for tighter security measures at Seef Mall following the theft of around $800,000 worth of gems from a shop on Saturday. The mall's management had been previously asked to step up security by concerned shop owners, one jeweler is quoted as saying.
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